The Federal Government has announced plans to abolish the common entrance examination for pupils transitioning from primary to junior secondary school, replacing it with a Continuous Assessment (CA) system.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos. He explained that the proposed CA system would track pupils’ academic performance from primary one and remain valid even if they transfer between schools.
According to the minister, the reform is part of broader efforts to address gaps in access to secondary education. He revealed that although Nigeria has over 50,000 public primary schools with more than 23 million pupils, only about 3 million proceed to public junior secondary schools.
Alausa questioned the whereabouts of the remaining pupils, noting that private schools cannot absorb such a large number. He emphasized the urgent need for state governments to expand infrastructure by building more schools to accommodate growing enrollment.
To strengthen monitoring, the government also plans to introduce a Learner Identification Number for every child starting from primary school. The unique number will enable authorities to track students’ progress and identify those who drop out of the education system.
He further stated that the Continuous Assessment system would ensure a more comprehensive evaluation of pupils, reducing reliance on one-off examinations.
In addition, the minister hinted at plans to revive the school feeding programme, with oversight expected to be transferred to the Federal Ministry of Education to improve implementation and encourage school attendance.
The proposed reforms are aimed at improving access, continuity, and quality within Nigeria’s basic education system.
